Liability in a Georgia Ambulance Accident

July 08, 2011

Ambulance drivers have a huge responsibility to get people they are transporting to the hospital as fast as possible so that they can receive the medical care that they need. They also have a responsibility to drive with care on the way and not endanger other motorist's and other innocent people's lives in the process.

Ambulance drivers are required to follow certain protocols and exercise extreme caution while they transport their passengers. If they do not exercise caution and follow protocol, they may be considered negligent if they cause a Georgia auto accident resulting in injuries or wrongful death. Drivers employing sirens and flashers, as well as exercising caution at red light intersections, represent some of the protocols that need to be followed when traveling in emergency situations.

An experienced Georgia auto accident attorney can help you to determine if the driver of the ambulance that caused you injury was negligent. They will conduct a detailed investigation, including interviewing key witnesses, to determine if the ambulance driver was following appropriate procedures and protocols. This is not always the case because a study conducted by researchers analyzing data from the NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) found that in ambulance accidents over a ten year period, 41 percent of the drivers were found to have a poor driving record.

Injuries sustained in an accident with a speeding ambulance can be catastrophic whether you are in your car, on a bicycle, or on foot. You could end up needing long term medical care for injuries to your spine, back, or head. By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation to help cover these expenses, as we as to compensate you for your lost wages and pain in suffering. In some situations you can also be entitled to punitive damages.

Georgia's law on the operation of emergency vehicles, including ambulances, clearly states that a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle shall not be relieved from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons even while following provisions that allow them to exceed speed limits, go through red lights and stop signs or disregard regulations allowing them to make turns in certain directions.

It Can Happen to Anybody

Just recently in California, an ambulance, which did not have its siren or lights on, sped through a red light at 10:45 in the morning and crashed into the side of a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. Then the ambulance also struck a second vehicle. The ambulance was on its way to a non-emergency call. While reading information on the call, the driver was distracted and did not see the traffic signal, which he blew through. In California, just like in Georgia, this ambulance driver is required to have both its lights and siren on when going through red lights. The driver of the Jetta is suing the city for the injuries that were suffered in the ambulance collision.

In a slightly different case, a nurse who was actually traveling in the back of the ambulance while on duty sued an ambulance company and accused its driver of reckless driving when the ambulance hit a median and flipped over as it transported a patient. The nurse was in the ambulance caring for a premature baby who needed specialized respiratory services when the accident occurred. The nurse sustained broken arms, a blow to the head, scarring and disfigurement as well as infections while in the hospital. Authorities affirmed that the driver failed to maintain control while passing other vehicles.

If you have been involved in an ambulance accident in Georgia, the attorneys at Montlick and Associates offers a free initial case evaluation. Our Georgia ambulance accident attorneys will provide a free consultation to discuss your situation, and the liability of various parties and insurance companies for your injuries. Our Atlanta ambulance accident attorneys handled cases throughout the state of Georgia.

Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, has been representing those seriously injured in car crashes throughout Georgia for over 27 years. If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision with an emergency response vehicle, contact our Georgia auto accident and injury attorneys to learn how we can help. We are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.

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Please Note:Many of our blog articles discuss the law. All information provided about the law is very general in nature and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Every situation is different, and should be analyzed by a lawyer who can provide individualized advice based on the facts involved in your unique situation, and a consideration of all of the nuances of the statutes and case law that apply at the time.